Take care of your canine partner

As pets or even more as hunting partners our dogs give us a lot. I’m always amazed by one behavior. Mine are happy to see me, if I’ve been gone for a minute, or a month. It’s a stub wagging reunion. Now that’s devotion.

I have enjoyed immensely, mostly, the hunter/hunting dog relationship for about six decades. That relationship has added immeasurably to my quality of life.

There is a down side that we all have dealt with. They are so dependent on us and we feel so responsible. I believe one of the saddest times in my life is seeing the fire in ones’ eyes die as they pass on to the happy hunting grounds. I feel so utterly helpless, and so sad. They think I can help them. I can’t. Those memories are imprinted on me forever.

But what you can do is take care of them as best as you can. Then when the final curtain falls, you can have some satisfaction in knowing that you did all you could for them while they were alive. Here are some reminders.

•Keep their immunizations and heartworm prevention up to date. Leptospirosis, distemper and the shot series. Rabies shots are mandatory. Heartworm infection in untreated dogs is particularly prominent in our area with ample moisture, a long warm season, and lots of mosquitos.

•Keep them off the streets. Not streetwise dogs, especially young ones, don’t know how to avoid thousand pound metal projectiles hurtling down paved pathways.

•Keep their teeth clean by brushing. Periodic brushing or teeth cleaning can preclude later periodontal issues.

•Check their toenails and trim as required. Nails on some dogs grow excessively and will crack unless trimmed. Check ears and treat infections if necessary.

•Keep them away from poisonous snakes. Fairly common are copperheads in upland habitat, and cottonmouths in wetlands. And there is an occasional timber rattlesnake that can pack a powerful poisonous punch. Alligators have become more widespread, and are active in warm weather.

•Keep them away from rat poison in barns and hunting camps. Dogs seem to be attracted to the baits intended for rodent pests.

•Don’t let them get overweight. In the summer doldrums their energy requirements are less and they require less food. Let them exercise.

•Summer heat can be brutal. In drills use some constraint and don’t let them overheat. Heat exhaustion or worst heat stroke can be a real issue.

•Have older dogs checked for tumors. Cancer is more common in older dogs. They can often survive several years after effective surgery. As I write this I’m looking at HRCH Silvestre Acadiana (Cadi) my hunting partner for about a decade. She is semi retired now. But doing OK. She survived two cancers and an infected uterus. Liz and I know she won’t live forever. Nothing living does. But we enjoy and are grateful for every day with her. We are all doing fine when the new Boykin pup, Silvi, pestering Cadi is her main concern.

Have the phone numbers available and know the location of the local veterinarian clinic, and the emergency one for after hours.

Also think of and address what else I may have missed.

Take every precaution and care of your canine partner. So when it’s over, you’ll take some comfort- in that-you did all you could to keep your pal healthy and alive as long as possible.

Dr. James G. Dickson-Award winning -author, researcher, wildlife biologist, and professor. Email him at jgdickson14@gmail.com